T-Squared: Education coverage is at the core of our mission

Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

---

Since 1876, the Texas Constitution has required the state to support and maintain “an efficient system of free public schools.”

What do these promises mean today? How should Texas fulfill the promise it makes in its governing document?

The Texas Tribune helps equip Texans with the information they need to wrestle with these questions and push for a brighter future for their children. Education has been a core focus of our coverage since the Tribune launched in 2009. Our journalists have brought millions of Texans closer to salient issues in education.

This coverage is only becoming more important. This year, we closely followed debates in the Legislature and the impact of those debates on Texas communities, schools, educators, parents and students. We’ve seen the overhaul of how Texas funds its community colleges, as well as the continuing debate over a potential voucher-like program in K-12 education. Debates about tenure and diversity programs have roiled public universities.

Today, the Tribune is the state’s leading source of breaking news, exclusive reporting and analysis on education policy thanks to the work largely carried out by two reporters.

Brian Lopez, who covers K-12 schools, has put a spotlight on the strained relationship between the Houston school district’s community and the new state-appointed superintendent, the decisions Texas schools are making due to strains, and the creative solutions they’re exploring to address those challenges.

Kate McGee, who covers higher education, has produced unrivaled explanatory journalism on topics like affirmative action and the Legislature’s attacks on tenure, as well as accountability coverage that drives nationwide discussion and can effect change, like her recent scoop on the botched hiring of a new head of Texas A&M’s journalism program.

Supported by our education and urban affairs editor, Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera, our education team strives to cut through the political talking points, tell the stories no one is telling and empower students, parents and teachers with fact-based news and information.

We are also deepening our coverage of community colleges, career and vocational training, and alternate educational certifications, including for adult learners, veterans and other nontraditional students. Texans need to know more about all of the pathways to entering Texas’ workforce, and we’re thrilled to be more of a resource and a connector to empower people across our great state.

And we will continue to provide data resources so Texans can better understand student outcomes — and how to improve them.

We are excited to build on these successes. This week, Brian moderated a free event with state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe; Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde; San Antonio pre-K teacher Laura Herrera; and Texas Private Schools Association executive director Laura Colangelo. This year’s Texas Tribune Festival, taking place Sept. 21-23 in Austin, will feature many education experts, including Texas State Board of Education chair Keven Ellis; Renu Khator, chancellor of the University of Houston System; and John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System; and Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College.

Education is arguably the most important issue in Texas, as today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce and innovators. We are committed to expanding and deepening our education coverage. Help us do that with a gift now. We welcome suggestions, feedback and questions as we do so.

Thank you in advance for your support, and thank you to the Tribune’s supporters — individuals, organizations, foundations and others — who make everything we do possible.

Disclosure: Texas A&M University, Texas Private Schools Association, Texas A&M University System and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

---

Join us for conversations that matter with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23.